4G Portable Irrigation Monitor

Python
3D Printing
Website
Enclosure
Open Source
Solar Panel
IoT

This is a remote water flow monitoring device specialized for agricultural irrigation systems. It periodically checks water velocity and depth in order to calculate an approximate volume over time, in order to report it to a field manager who can then close a water gate when a desired threshold is met. The unit utilizes a solar panel and a switching buck converter in order to remain operational both while charging and throughout the night: alongside the custom, rugged enclosure printed with PETG filament, the system is designed to remain in the field for days on end. The sensors use ultrasound transducers for determining depth (from reflection delay) and velocity (from Doppler frequency shift). The system uses 4G-LTE to send readings to a remote server hosting the project website, where a user can customize channel metrics, view and export readings, and sign up for email alerts. The system is notably cheap compared to similar products on the market, in part due to the custom velocity sensor, which is optimized for shallow, unidirectional irrigation channels. For potential future improvement, this project could be extended to support multiple units at once, or to automate the closing and opening of gates.

1 Lifts 

Artifacts

Name Description
Project Document Document containing all information and detailed breakdown of project   Download
Companion Website for Project The website where the monitor unit reports to   Link
Website Github Github repo containing all website code   Link
Microcontroller Github Github repo containing microcontroller code   Link
Executive Summary Discussion on design approach and lessons learned.   Download
Project Video Video talking about the project's specs, challenges, and possible future improvements   Link